As the Dodgers head into the World Series, the front office and team stopped to remember one of the best in blue, Dodger legend Fernando Valenzuela, who passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday evening, at the age of 63, only days after his former team won the NLCS. 

“It was sad, because it was really sudden. He wasn’t in the news lately, and all of a sudden he was. I know he wasn’t that young but he really was. It was just sad,” said Hortensia Mares, a seventh grade teacher on campus and a fan of the Dodgers.

Fernando Valenzuela was born on November 1, 1960 in Navojoa, Mexico. At the age of sixteen, he joined the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol  where he quickly caught the attention of Major League Baseball with a 2.23 earned run average. He was discovered by Los Angeles Dodgers scout Corito Varona and signed to a MLB contract only 3 years after joining the Liga Mexicana.

Valenzuela made his Major League debut during the 1980-1981 season. He dominated the field and was awarded NL Rookie of the Year and a Cy Young trophy, the first and only player ever to receive both awards in the same season. 

“He represented the Latin community and area of Los Angeles, and when he received those two awards [the Cy Young award and the Rookie of the Year Award], it was amazing and inspirational, as he was the first person to receive both of those awards in the same year,” said Hortensia Mares.

Valenzuela went on to help the Dodgers reach the 1981 World Series, where he helped pitch them to victory at the age of 21. He would go on to play 11 more seasons with the Dodgers before being traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in June of 1977.

“It was very, very heartbreaking since he never got to see his team play again in the world series against the yankees, because when he pitched in the 1981 world series and led the dodger to victory it was against the same team [the New York Yankees],” said Mr. Nemecek a, a PE teacher here on campus.

Fans throughout the US and Mexico are deeply saddened by the death of the Dodger legend. Many gathered outside Dodger Stadium last night to pay tribute.

“Fernando Valenzuela was one of the most impactful players of his generation,” said Commissioner of MLB Rob Manfred in a press release statement.

“He was very impactful! He inspired people. He was kind of a big guy, and all the MLB players are skinny and showed that they could make it in the pro sports without being the skinniest,” said Mr. Nemecek.

As the World Series approaches on Friday, the Dodgers have announced their intention of remembering Valenzuela with a commemorative uniform patch. It will include his name and the number 34, which was recently retired in August of 2023. The patch will be worn throughout the World Series and the upcoming 2025 season. 

“We will honor Fernando’s memory during the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Fernando’s family, the Dodgers, his friends across the game, and all the loyal baseball fans of Mexico,” said Manfred.